Monday, February 13, 2012

Split Nine-Patch Tutorial

The ‘Split Nine-Patch’ or ‘Disappearing
Nine-Patch’ is a fairly recent design that is doing the rounds of quilting
circles. It has been duplicated by many and seems to be evolving all the
time. I have written instructions to
make it my way (which is usually the quickest, easiest way!)

You need nine different fabrics for the
nine-patches in 6 ½” strips. Two strips of each fabric, one the
WOF and one half the WOF. There should be one fabric that stands
alone, like a zinger or a darker fabric. You should use this as the centre
square.

Then there should be four light and four
dark co-ordinating fabrics.

The darker fabrics are your corner squares
and the light fabrics are the central side squares.

70 cm fabric for the thin border and the
binding

90 cm fabric for the final border

Sewing Instructions

Take the nine fabrics that are already cut
in 6 ½” strips and decide how they should be laid out in the nine-patch.

NOTE: All
the nine-patches should be made exactly the same.

Sew
the fabric A, 6 ½” strip (the WOF) to the fabric B, 6½” strip (the WOF)
legthways. Then sew the fabric C, 6 ½” strip (the WOF) to the other long side
of the fabric B, 6 ½” strip (the WOF).

Remove the selvedges and sew the strips together at
the short ends, creating one long strip. Measure through the centre of the quilt top and cut
two strips this length. (Should be 53”). Pin and sew
these onto two opposite side edges.

Measure
through the centre of the quilt top including the two new sides and cut two strips
this length. (Should be 55”) Sew onto the two final sides.

From the final border fabric cut six 5 ½” strips
the WOF.

Remove the selvedges and sew the strips together at
the short ends, creating one long strip. Measure through the centre of the quilt top and cut
two strips this length. (Should be 55”). Pin and sew
these onto two opposite side edges.

Measure
through the centre of the quilt top including the two new sides and cut two
strips this length. (Should be 65”) Sew
onto the two final sides.

Different
Ideas for making the
Split Nine-Patch

An effective Split Nine-patch quilt could
be made with light and dark scraps keeping the centre square as the same fabric
throughout or alternatively you could make all nine fabrics scrappy.

Don’t be limited by the size we used - 6”
squares. 4”, 5” or 7” blocks would still work and look great.

Rotating the squares is another area you
could differ. Make a lot of corner blocks and randomly sew them together
following no pattern layout at all.

Have fun creating your own version of a Split nine-patch!

..............Penny

Kits are available $82 $77 $80

Border fabrics are included in the kits with a Free printout of the pattern.